ROAD CONSTRUCTION

Quader rejects BNP’s claim that AL activists plundering public money

Guests and leaders and activists of Bangladesh Awami Juba League pose for a photograph holding copies of a booklet on homecoming of Sheikh Hasina during a programme in Dhaka on Sunday. — New Age photo

Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Sunday rejected the claim of the Bangladesh Nationalists Party that the government had ordered the reconstruction of roads before Eid with the purposes of creating an opportunity for its leaders and activists to plunder public money.BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi earlier on the day said that the Awami League leaders and activists were plundering public money in the name of reconstruction works of roads ahead of Eid.While addressing a discussion organised by Bangladesh Awami Juba League at Mahanagar Natyamancha in Dhaka marking the homecoming day of AL president Sheikh Hasina, Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, asked the BNP leaders to come up with proof of such corruption.‘I am working as road transport and bridges minster for nine years but I never allowed my party’s leaders and activists in my secretariat office,’ Quader said.But BNP leaders and activists were involved with corruptions when their party was in power, Quader said.He also criticised some left party leaders who demanded that the government should have talks with BNP to convince it in taking part in the next general election for holding an inclusive election.The Election Commission had already started procedures for holding next general election and it would not be stopped if BNP did not take part in it, Quader said. Chaired by Juba League president Omar Faroque Chowdhury, general secretary of the youth body Harun-or-Rashid, president of Dhaka North unit Juba League, Mainul Hossain Khan, president of Dhaka South unit Ismail Hossain Samrat and others joined in the discussion.